The medical complications associated with obesity are many, and well documented by the medical community. The more weight gained, the greater the likelihood of developing obesity-related health problems. The complications of morbid obesity can be life threatening. Even more startling are new statistics of obesity doubling over the last thirty years for children ages two to five and twelve to nineteen and tripling in children ages six to eleven! Unfortunately, like obese adults, obese children are susceptible to type 2 diabetes and many of the same medical complications.

Obesity related medical complications occur due to a number of factors. For every 10 pounds a person is overweight, and extra 10 mg of cholesterol is produced daily. Increased cholesterol is associated with heart disease and gallstones. Fat tissues release substances that increase the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

What most people don't realize is that the weight you see on the outside of your body also exists on the inside. Fat cells invade valuable space occupied by vital organs. This crowding prevents normal circulation and function and can disrupt normal body functions. And obesity, especially severe obesity, reduces mobility and freedom of movement, making people more accident-prone. Then there are the day-to-day pressures and stresses that excess weight demands of the body itself to accomplish even basic tasks such as walking and breathing.

The medical reasons for avoiding weight gain have been well documented by obesity research. The good news is that even a ten-pound drop in weight can reduce your chances of developing medical complications like type 2 diabetes. Controlling your weight is especially important if:

Certain medical complications are aggravated by weight gain. Please note that this list by no means covers all obesity consequences.

One of the most dramatic medical complications resulting from obesity is type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and obesity are closely linked: severe obesity increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes by more than fifty times the normal. According to the American Diabetes Association nearly 9 out of 10 people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight. In fact, childhood obesity accounts for a forty percent increase in type 2 diabetes, a medical condition that was once considered an adult disease.

Hormones produced by fat tissue (adipose tissue) have been linked to type 2 diabetes onset. Either the body loses its ability to produce insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. In either case, the cells become energy starved. Type 2 diabetes has its own complications like blindness, nerve damage, kidney damage and hypertension.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a medical complication of type 2 diabetes and obesity and a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Even a weight gain of thirty pounds is enough to raise blood pressure. High blood pressure alters the blood chemistry causing blood clots.

Osteoarthritis is often referred to as "wear and tear" arthritis. Over time the joint cartilage wears down, resulting in bone-to-bone contact and discomfort. Extra body weight puts extra pressure on joint cartilage, especially on weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing while sleeping becomes difficult, often because of extra weight. Snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, and the sleeper may stop breathing for up to a minute at a time. Sleep apnea increases the chances of fatal heart attacks. People also tend to wake up when breathing resumes, often several times a night. This leads to daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Chronic fatigue weakens the immune system, increasing health risks.

The numbers are in. Obesity is one of the highest and most preventable risk factors for certain cancers People battling obesity are more susceptible to a variety of cancers. Women are three times as likely to develop breast, uterine, ovarian and cervical cancer. Men are at higher risk for prostate and colon cancer.

 

 

American Obesity Association. (2002). Health effects of obesity. AOA Fact Sheet.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—Weight-Control Information Network. (2004, November). Do you know the health risks of being overweight? [NIH Publication No. 04-4098].

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—Weight-Control Information Network. (2001, October). Understanding adult obesity [NIH Publication No.01-3680].

Stanford Hospital & Clinics. (nd). Health effects of obesity.